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How a flooring installer works out the price
A flooring installer usually prices by the square metre for the floor you choose, supplied and installed, then adds work around it: lifting and disposing of the old floor, preparing the subfloor, skirting and doorway strips. Hard floors such as timber may also be sanded and polished by the square metre. The hourly rate has to cover more than wages. The Fair Work minimum for a Level 3 employee under the Building and Construction General On-site Award is $29.45 an hour from 1 July 2026, and the price also pays for tools, insurance and paperwork.
- Measure the area and check the subfloor (concrete, timber or old flooring)
- Remove and dispose of the old floor, if any
- Prepare the subfloor: level, patch, clean, and lay underlay where needed
- Supply and install the new floor, priced per square metre
- Fit skirting, door strips and transitions
- Sand and finish timber floors, then GST on the total
Worked example: A 20 m² room, old floor removed, 10 m² of subfloor levelling, vinyl plank laid, at typical rates from one compiled guide (illustrative, not a quote)
- Remove and dispose of old flooring, 20 m² at $15 a m²
- $300
- Subfloor levelling and prep, 10 m² at $40 a m²
- $400
- Vinyl plank supplied and installed, 20 m² at $75 a m²
- $1,500
- Total
- $2,200 total (illustrative)
What it costs, by scenario
Low, typical and high prices. Built on 19 October 2026 from one compiled national price guide that states installed prices, three Airtasker pages, a Canstar carpet guide, the Fair Work award and state regulator pages. Every installed total rests on the one compiled guide and is only partly checked by the other sources, because they price materials or labour separately. We found no flooring retailer's own price list. The guide says its prices include GST, while the other sources do not say.
Carpet, supplied and installed (per m²)
This rests on the compiled national guide. Canstar gives carpet materials from $20 per m², and installation of about $25 to $45 per m² by state, so the guide's low figure is consistent with that.
- Low
- $45
- Typical
- $70
- High
- $110
Vinyl plank, supplied and installed (per m²)
This rests on the compiled national guide. Airtasker prices vinyl plank materials at $50 to $100 per m² and labour at $23 to $44 per m² on a separate page, which would put an installed floor higher.
- Low
- $50
- Typical
- $75
- High
- $100
Laminate, supplied and installed (per m²)
This rests on the compiled national guide. Airtasker gives laminate materials at $30 to $35 per m² and says labour can reach $83 per m², so sources differ on the top end.
- Low
- $50
- Typical
- $65
- High
- $100
Engineered timber, supplied and installed (per m²)
This rests on the compiled national guide. Airtasker's timber page gives a lower range of $50 to over $150 per m², so check your quote against both.
- Low
- $110
- Typical
- $140
- High
- $200
Solid hardwood, supplied and installed (per m²)
This rests on the compiled national guide. Airtasker's timber page puts higher-grade timber at over $150 per m² without a top figure.
- Low
- $150
- Typical
- $200
- High
- $280
Sanding and polishing a timber floor (per m²)
This rests on the compiled national guide. One Airtasker review lists a $25 per m² sanding and polishing rate, but a single review is not a benchmark.
- Low
- $30
- Typical
- $45
- High
- $70
Removal and disposal of old flooring (per m²)
This rests on the compiled national guide. Airtasker prices removal of old carpet or flooring from about $36 an hour instead, and Canstar warns that a quote may not include removal.
- Low
- $8
- Typical
- $15
- High
- $25
Subfloor levelling or preparation, where needed (per m²)
This rests on the compiled national guide. Not every floor needs it. Uneven concrete or damaged boards need more.
- Low
- $20
- Typical
- $40
- High
- $90
| Scenario | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpet, supplied and installed (per m²)This rests on the compiled national guide. Canstar gives carpet materials from $20 per m², and installation of about $25 to $45 per m² by state, so the guide's low figure is consistent with that. | $45 | $70 | $110 |
| Vinyl plank, supplied and installed (per m²)This rests on the compiled national guide. Airtasker prices vinyl plank materials at $50 to $100 per m² and labour at $23 to $44 per m² on a separate page, which would put an installed floor higher. | $50 | $75 | $100 |
| Laminate, supplied and installed (per m²)This rests on the compiled national guide. Airtasker gives laminate materials at $30 to $35 per m² and says labour can reach $83 per m², so sources differ on the top end. | $50 | $65 | $100 |
| Engineered timber, supplied and installed (per m²)This rests on the compiled national guide. Airtasker's timber page gives a lower range of $50 to over $150 per m², so check your quote against both. | $110 | $140 | $200 |
| Solid hardwood, supplied and installed (per m²)This rests on the compiled national guide. Airtasker's timber page puts higher-grade timber at over $150 per m² without a top figure. | $150 | $200 | $280 |
| Sanding and polishing a timber floor (per m²)This rests on the compiled national guide. One Airtasker review lists a $25 per m² sanding and polishing rate, but a single review is not a benchmark. | $30 | $45 | $70 |
| Removal and disposal of old flooring (per m²)This rests on the compiled national guide. Airtasker prices removal of old carpet or flooring from about $36 an hour instead, and Canstar warns that a quote may not include removal. | $8 | $15 | $25 |
| Subfloor levelling or preparation, where needed (per m²)This rests on the compiled national guide. Not every floor needs it. Uneven concrete or damaged boards need more. | $20 | $40 | $90 |
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Find a providerWhat changes the price
- Floor type. Carpet and vinyl are cheapest installed, laminate sits in the middle, and engineered timber and solid hardwood cost the most.
- Subfloor condition. Uneven concrete, damp or damaged boards must be fixed before the new floor goes down.
- Old flooring. Removal and disposal are separate work, and glued-down or tiled floors take longer than carpet.
- Room shape and size. Many corners, doorways, stairs and cutting add time. Small rooms cost more per square metre.
- Finish and grade. Airtasker prices timber from $50 per m² for low grades to over $150 for higher grades.
- Furniture and access. Moving heavy furniture or working up stairs adds time, and some installers charge for it.
What's usually included, and what isn't
Usually included
- Supply of the flooring you choose, where the quote says supplied and installed
- Labour to lay the floor, including cutting and fitting
- Underlay or adhesive where the product needs it
- Basic door strips and transitions
- Clean-up of offcuts at the end of the job
Often extra
- Removal and disposal of the old floor unless the quote includes it
- Subfloor levelling, repair or moisture treatment
- Skirting boards, which the compiled guide prices separately from the floor
- Moving furniture and appliances
- Sanding and polishing of timber floors unless quoted
Metro and regional differences
Metro: Capital cities have more installers, so there is more competition, but higher wages and parking and travel time raise labour prices. Canstar, citing hipages, puts carpet installation at about $45 per m² in Sydney, $35 in Melbourne and $25 in Queensland.
Regional: Our sources give no separate regional ranges, so treat the figures as a national guide. Outside the cities, long drives and delivery of flooring from a distant supplier can add to the price, and fewer installers means fewer quotes to compare.
Licensing and compliance
Licensing for flooring depends on the state, and we could confirm it for only some.
Queensland: the QBCC lists a Floor finishing and covering (hard sector) licence class and no separate class for carpet or timber flooring, and says building work valued over $3,300 needs a licence, with home warranty insurance for residential work above the same value.
New South Wales: Building Commission NSW says a written contract is needed above $5,000 including GST and home building compensation cover above $20,000, but the page we opened does not state a licence threshold, so check the home building licence register.
Victoria: from 1 July 2026 Home Warranty insurance applies to work worth more than $20,000 on a home of three storeys or less.
Western Australia: Building and Energy says registration is required for builders, painters, building surveyors and building engineers and does not list flooring, and home indemnity insurance applies to residential building work valued over $20,000.
The ACT: the planning site says carpenters and bricklayers do not currently need a licence.
South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory: we could not open the relevant regulator pages, so we have not stated their rules.
Ask your installer for a licence number where your state needs one, and check it on the regulator's register.
Before you accept a quote, check
- Is the price per square metre supplied and installed, or labour only?
- Is removal and disposal of the old floor included?
- What does the quote assume about the subfloor, and what happens if it needs work?
- Are underlay, skirting and door strips included?
- Who moves the furniture, and is there a charge?
- Does the quote say whether GST is included?
- What warranty is offered on the product and the installation?
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to install carpet?
The compiled national guide puts installed carpet at $45 to $110 per square metre. Canstar gives materials from $20 per square metre, and installation of about $25 to $45 per square metre depending on the state.
What does vinyl plank flooring cost per square metre?
The compiled guide puts installed vinyl plank at $50 to $100 per square metre. Airtasker prices the plank at $50 to $100 per square metre for materials alone, with labour extra, so ask your installer what the quote covers.
How much does it cost to sand and polish timber floors?
The compiled guide puts sanding and polishing at $30 to $70 per square metre, with about $45 as typical. That is one source, so get quotes.
Is removing old flooring included?
Not always. The compiled guide prices removal and disposal at $8 to $25 per square metre, and Canstar warns that a quote may not include removal and disposal of previous carpet.
Why is subfloor prep priced separately?
Because not every floor needs it. The compiled guide puts levelling or preparation at $20 to $90 per square metre where it is required, depending on how uneven or damaged the base is.
Do flooring installers need a licence?
It depends on the state and the size of the job. Queensland lists a floor finishing and covering licence class, and the ACT says carpenters do not currently need a licence. See the licensing section.
Sources and method
Built on 19 October 2026 from one compiled national price guide that states installed prices, three Airtasker pages, a Canstar carpet guide, the Fair Work award and state regulator pages. Every installed total rests on the one compiled guide and is only partly checked by the other sources, because they price materials or labour separately. We found no flooring retailer's own price list. The guide says its prices include GST, while the other sources do not say. How we calculate our guides.
- What's the Damage: flooring cost in Australia, national guide (compiled, sources not named) (survey, 19 October 2026)
- Canstar: how much does new carpet cost (compiled guide citing hipages and Choices Flooring) (survey, 3 July 2026)
- Airtasker: vinyl flooring cost guide (marketplace, 17 November 2025)
- Airtasker: timber flooring (marketplace, 10 October 2026)
- Airtasker: laminate vs vinyl flooring comparison (marketplace, 24 September 2026)
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Building and Construction General On-site Award MA000020 (award, 1 July 2026)
- QBCC: available licences (regulator, 1 July 2026)
- QBCC: who must hold a QBCC licence (regulator, 16 April 2026)
- QBCC: what is home warranty insurance (regulator, 11 May 2025)
- NSW Government: contracts for building or renovating a home (Building Commission NSW) (regulator, 29 April 2026)
- Consumer Victoria: domestic building insurance and insolvency (regulator, 6 February 2026)
- WA Government: information and obligations for registered building services providers (regulator, 26 May 2026)
- ACT Planning: construction licences (regulator, 19 October 2026)
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